Unconfirmed reports emerged today suggesting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad may have perished in a plane crash while attempting to flee the capital, Damascus, as rebels reportedly seize control.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!A Syrian airplane took off from Damascus International Airport around 10:45 AM local time. Initially, the plane flew towards the coastal region, a stronghold of Assad’s Alawite sect. Suddenly, the plane made a sharp U-turn and disappeared from radar.
Two Syrian sources close to the Assad regime claim there’s a “very high probability” Assad was on board. The sources speculate the plane’s abrupt change in direction may indicate Assad’s knowledge of the impending rebel takeover.
Reuters has been unable to confirm the identities of those on board. Syrian authorities have not released an official statement.
The Syrian Civil War has ravaged the country since 2011, resulting in over 606,000 deaths. Rebel forces have made significant gains in recent days, capturing key cities.
The international community is calling for calm and verification of reports. Regional allies, including Russia and Iran, remain tight-lipped.